One Beautiful Day or A Happy Day on the Ranch

Today I enjoyed one of the best days I've had for quite a while. We've had such awful weather for about a month, days and nights filled with freezing, gusty wind, snow, ice and mud.

Today was so warm I could go outside in a long sleeve shirt.....no coat! The sun was so warm and the temps were close to 60 degrees! And I wanted to get outside and get some projects completed, rejoice in the warmth and enjoy my animals.

First I sat outside with my chickens while sipping my orange spice tea (no breakfast...just tea). I was so energized that I wasn't even hungry! hehe
I spent close to an hour with them, talking, petting and holding them. They bring me so much joy. What a fabulous way to start the day. I recommend it to anyone.

(Click each photo for a larger view, of course).

Brown Leghorn and Rhode Island Red
Jenna talking to the chickens, who always seem to love it when Jenna visits.
The girls like to congregate below the apple tree.
I spent alot of time enjoying one of my Rhode Island Reds taking a dirt bath. She thoroughly enjoyed herself.


She rolled, twisted and kicked up the sand for at least 20 minutes!


When an Ameracauna and a Silver Laced Wyandotte asked nicely if they could now have a turn at the bath, the Rhode Island Red flat out refused.
They tried to edge their way in, to no avail.
The Silver-Laced Wyandotte begged and pleaded to deaf ears.
Angelina Ballerina got tired of waiting for the bath, too and flew off in a huff!

This particular brown leghorn typically stays right by my side and looks at me as if she wants to jump up in my lap. When I try to give her a boost, like I do our other chickens, she just runs off, though.
A head-less chicken??
Our barred rock, Betty, seeming to ask "What are you waiting for? Pick me up!"
What a pretty girl! I love those patterns.
One of our Ameracaunas. It's interesting to me how each Ameracauana can look so different from the others.
Jackson came out to visit with the chickens, too. Of course, Kipper and Spotty Dotty, and the Rhode Island Reds insist on visiting, too. They all seem to have a fondness and curiosity for kids.
"Got any food in your hand?"
"Give me a pet, scratch, food, affection, something!"
And little Miss Red continued her bath.....



After the Tea with Chickens breakfast, I let the llamas out of their pens while keeping our new Angora goat, who we've decided to name Luna, in the pen. Big mistake.
She hates being alone. And if she can't see me up close, she tries to get my attention.

But I really wanted to get working on the metal pole gates in the pasture, adding wire fencing on the bottom and in between the pole openings, to not only keep predators out, but keep Luna in. With only the llamas in the pasture, I didn't worry much about the predators or stray dogs because I've seen both llamas attack a stray dog. And hubby and I realized, not long after we got our llamas, that the coyotes that used to live in our pasture had moved on. We are almost postive that the llamas gave them their packing instructions in a nice firm way.

It took me over an hour to get this work done on the gates, and the entire time, Luna kept bleating loudly for me. We live in a valley and sounds carry quite well, especially loud livestock!

The llamas ignored all the noise at the barn and did their typical browsing and relaxing in the pasture. But after I was done with the long truck gate, I walked up to the barn, and let her out of the pen. She followed me, at a run all the way down to the smaller pole gate, and I got back to work with my fencing project.

The llamas came down to the bottom of the pasture to hang out while I worked and Luna stayed really close, too. When the llamas finally started to wander off, Luna seemed very confused at whether she should go with them or stay with me.

In the end she chose me, but when I had to go inside for another tool and materials, she jumped up on the gate and bleated for my quick return. She didn't stop bleating until I was within her sight again.

A little bit later, I got to work cleaning out the hen house and coop. Luna was not very happy about this, but if I called out to her every now and then she slowed down the number and loudness of her bleats. I promised her that when I was done I'd spend some time with her.

So after I was done with the chicken chores, I grabbed my chair and another cup of tea and a couple choco chip cookies (lunch), and sat out in the pasture with the llamas and Luna.

I sat out there in the glorious sun for more than an hour, watching the llamas and Luna, observing my neighbor's horses' reaction to Luna, and catching sight of my daughter playing with the chickens and our dog, Zuni down at the house.

Luna always kept me within her sight and if she lost sight of me, she ran to find me, gently bleating a questionary "hellooo, where are you?". When she found me, she rubbed her nose on my hand and allowed me to scratch her back and head. She is such a people person and is quite needy for attention. I wonder if that will change somewhat when we bring in a buddy for her soon?
If she could stop bleating so loudly whenever she can't see me, that would be really nice.

A little later, she followed me in the barn and I handfed her some grain. I wanted to try trimming her ghastly long toenails/hooves. It was surpisingly simnple to trim her. All I had to do was wrap my arm across her back and then lift up each leg, and trim. She stood completely still, except to lick and nuzzle my hand or face occasionally.
Aferwards she seemed to walk alot better and had some zing her step, too. I was happy to relieve her of those overgrown hooves. Poor thing. She is just too sweet not to have the proper care and affection given to her. And I may be reading more into it, but she seems to know that I mean well and want to give her a good life.

At first, whenever Luna tried to hang out with Cataleya and Catlinite, they would turn tail and move away from her. Reminds me of those dreadful cliques in high school.
Then as the horses got excited and riled up about this new critter in the pasture next to theirs, the llamas seemed to take responsibility for their new goatie friend.
All 3 horses galloped back and forth across their paddock.
All the commotion spooked Cataleya and Luna, too.
Amazing to think that the white horse in front, the same one that I sometimes ride, is over 20 yrs old. She still has alot of spirit!
All the excitement caused Luna to have to go potty.
She decided she'd had enough of all that crazy stuff and came looking for me.
What a sweet little goatie. She came over to me for a chin rub and a nose snuggle.
The llamas and horses seem to be saying, "Don't go! We promise to be nice now!"
And now, all is calm again.